20 February 2007 Chapter 8 - Public Access Policy 1.6 Acquire at the time of subdivision esplanade reserves, or negotiate strips, in accordance with the criteria set out in Volume Two (Chapter 28, Standard Requirements for Subdivision and Development) with regard given to the values listed in Appendix I - Schedule of Water Bodies for Riparian Management purpose. Policy 1.7 Purchase esplanade reserves and negotiate esplanade strips as and when funding from development and subdivision levies permit. Policy 1.8 Public access to and along the coastal marine area, lakes and rivers should be maintained and enhanced, except where restriction depriving the public of such access is necessary to: • Protect areas of significant indigenous vegetation and/ or significant habitats of indigenous fauna; • Protect Maori cultural values; • Protect public health and safety; • Ensure a level of security consistent with the purpose of a resource consent or designation; • Enable defence purposes under the Defence Act; or • In other exceptional circumstances sufficient to justify the restriction notwithstanding the national importance of maintaining that access. Policy 1.9 Specify and promote riparian management practices, determined by a schedule of water bodies based on criteria which includes provision of public access and recreation. It is intended that activities or works will be controlled where public access is important and particularly where the shoreline topography permits easy access. On shorelines close to major population centres it is important to maintain them free of structures that restrict public access. Although it is a reasonable expectation for Sounds property owners to have ready access to their property, it does not necessarily follow that every property should have its own jetty. Therefore where circumstances permit, the Council will require such structures to be shared. In addition the Council will generally require that all jetties are available to the public for personal safety, navigational safety as well as for access to the Sounds Foreshore Reserve. Public access along lakes and rivers is also important. 8.4 Methods of Implementation Rules Planning maps, Appendix I and rules identify or indicate: • Where access to and along the coastline, lakes and rivers is generally allowed by incorporating the Sounds Fore- shore Reserve and other esplanade reserves into the Conservation Zone. In addition, any road reserve, where the road has not been formed, which abuts the coastline 8 - 3